Two-wheeled vehicle dolly and method of moving same

ABSTRACT

A dolly comprising a front segment and a rear segment, each with wheels at both ends thereof, wherein the wheels are movable between lowered and lifted settings, at least two connecting members between the front segment and the rear segment, and at least one towing ring on the front segment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/027,536, filed on Jul.22, 2014, and the specification and claims thereof are incorporatedherein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention (Technical Field)

The present invention relates to two-wheeled vehicle dollies, and moreparticularly to motorcycle dollies which enable a single operator tolift and move a motorcycle without tipping it on its side.

Description of Related Art

Moving broken down two-wheeled vehicles, in particular motorcycles, hasvarious challenges. Commercially available motorcycle dollies requireeither the front or rear wheel of the motorcycle to be driven or pushedup through a ramp to reach a support platform onto which the motorcyclecan be secured for moving, e.g., to be pushed onto a tow truck.Motorcycles are unstable by nature and pushing a broken-down motorcycleonto even a small, sloped ramp is challenging. The operation requires atleast two people to ensure the motorcycle does not tip over on its side,which could greatly damage it. Requiring two people to load themotorcycle onto the dolly defeats the purpose of having this piece ofequipment. Not only that, pushing a large motorcycle, e.g., a HarleyDavidson®, with a flat tire up a ramp of this type is virtuallyimpossible, even for two people, not to mention dangerous. Thechallenges of loading a motorcycle onto a tow truck utilizing state ofthe art dollies are evidenced through the current costs associated withthe operation, which, despite the motorcycle's smaller size, are morethan double those of an automobile. Additionally, commercially availablemotorcycle dollies are very expensive, are very bulky, and although somedo fold up into a more compact configuration for transportation, theystill require significant storage space. There is a need for effective,versatile, motorcycle dollies that can take less storage space, and canbe operated by a single person.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is of a dolly comprising: a front segment and arear segment, each with wheels at both ends thereof, wherein the wheelsare movable between lowered and lifted settings; at least two connectingmembers between the front segment and the rear segment; and at least onetowing ring on the front segment. In the preferred embodiment, each ofthe front and rear segments houses an axle to which the wheels areattached. Each of said connecting members can be disassembled. One ormore lock pins connect sections of each connecting member. In oneembodiment, the wheels are switchable between lowered and liftedsettings independently of one another, and are preferably lockable intothe lifted setting. In another embodiment, the wheels are switchablebetween lowered and lifted settings as pairs, preferably whereinconnectors are secured to front and rear segments proximate the wheelsto lock said wheels into the lifted setting, most preferably via chains.

The invention is also of a method for moving a two-wheeled orthree-wheeled vehicle, the method comprising: providing a dolly asdescribed above; securing a front wheel of the vehicle to the dolly;moving the wheels into their lifted settings; and moving the vehicle.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will be setforth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following,or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects andadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose ofillustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionwith the front wheel of a motorcycle disposed on it, the motorcyclebeing partially strapped;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with themotorcycle fully strapped and showing a user holding the apparatus frontwheels in a lifted configuration while inserting a lock pin to lock theapparatus in this configuration;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showingthe motorcycle fully strapped and all lock pins in place to lock theapparatus in the lifted configuration;

FIG. 4 is a left top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in adisassembled state for transportation wherein its front and rearcomponents are separated;

FIG. 5 is a left top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 whereinthe front component has both connecting members fully extended;

FIG. 6 is a left top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 whereinboth front and rear components have their connecting members fullyextended and aligned in front of their counterparts for assembly;

FIG. 7 is a left top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 in thelowered configuration, fully assembled and locked with lock pins;

FIG. 8 is a left top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 withits rear set of wheels locked with lock pins in the liftedconfiguration;

FIG. 9 is a right top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 withall its wheels in the lifted configuration;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional front view of one of the segments of anembodiment of the present invention showing the apparatus' axle housing;and

FIG. 11 is a disassembled view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention solve the above noted problems byproviding dollies for two-wheeled vehicles that eliminate all problemsand risks of injury to employees/customers, or motorcycle damage.Embodiments of the present invention lay flat on the ground (loweredconfiguration) and are quickly assembled from a broken downconfiguration, are connected to the motorcycle without having to touchthe motorcycle or having to push or exert physical strain, and once themotorcycle is securely stabilized, by, for example, strapping it to theflat-laying apparatus, the wheels of the apparatus are able to descenddown to lift the wheel of the motorcycle up with an easy stroke of thehand (apparatus' lifted configuration). This makes it possible for asingle person to safely and effectively move a motorcycle, for example,to pull it onto a tow truck, and eliminates any risk of the motorcyclebeing tipped over while being handled. In addition, embodiments of thepresent invention have a highly compact configuration when disassembledfor transportation.

Embodiments of the present invention comprise dollies for two-wheeledvehicles, and more particularly, dollies for motorcycles that allow asingle person to lift and move a motorcycle unassisted.

Referring now to the Figures, in one embodiment, dolly 10 comprisesframe 12, which is preferably formed when front segment 14 and rearsegment 16 are assembled. Frame 12 can be fabricated of diverse suitablematerials, which include but are not limited to metals such as tubularor solid steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and the like, plastic, wood,combinations thereof and the like. Preferably, front segment 14comprises one or more preferably foldable connecting member 18 and rearsegment 16 comprises one or more preferably foldable connecting member20. In one embodiment, each segment comprises two connecting membersthat can attach to a corresponding counterpart to form frame 12. In oneembodiment, connecting members 18 are manufactured of tubular steel thatis larger in diameter than connecting members 20, as depicted in FIG. 6.Then connecting members 20 are inserted into connecting members 18 toassemble frame 12. Preferably, a locking mechanism is provided. Forexample, in one embodiment, the connecting members comprise matchingperforations through which lock pins 22 are disposed. See FIG. 7. In adifferent embodiment, the apparatus comprises an automatic lockingmechanism, for example, cam spring locks and the like.

Preferably, front segment 14 and rear segment 16 each comprise at leastone wheel 24. Referring to FIG. 10, in a preferred embodiment, eachsegment comprises two wheels 24 and a mechanism that allows the wheelsto have a lowered configuration for assemblage of the dolly 10 aroundthe wheel of a motorcycle or another two-wheeled vehicle, and a liftedconfiguration for moving the two-wheeled vehicle.

Preferably, the mechanism allows wheels 24 in each segment to switchbetween lowered and lifted configurations simultaneously for betterstability of the two-wheeled vehicle during lifting. Referring to FIG.10, for example, in one embodiment, front segment 14 and rear segment 16house axle 26 that connects to rotating wheel hubs 28 as the ends ofaxle 26 protrude from axle bearings 30. Preferably, rotating wheel hubs28 comprise socket 32 into which a leverage tool such as metal rod or ascrew driver, can be inserted to help switching to the liftedconfiguration. See FIGS. 2 and 8. Preferably, rotating wheel hubs 28comprise a mechanism to lock them in their different configurations. Forexample, pins 34 can be inserted through matching holes axle bearings30. See FIG. 9. Alternatively, the apparatus comprises an automaticlocking mechanism, for example, cam spring locks and the like.

In an alternative embodiment, each wheel comprises means to switchindependently between lowered and lifted configurations including butnot limited to hydraulic or mechanical means similar to the wide varietyof car jacks available.

Preferably, strap 36 is disposed from back to front or vice versa tosecure the vehicle's wheel and one or more straps 38 are used to furtherstabilize it. See FIG. 3. Preferably, frame 12 comprises means for strap36 to be secured, for example, square lock pins 39. In a preferredembodiment, towing ring 40 is disposed in the front of front segment 14so that dolly 10 can be pulled, for example, onto the platform of a towtruck. Preferably, axle bearings 30 comprise rings 42 for optionalattachment of straps 38.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment 10′ of the invention, comprisingframe 12, front segment 14, rear segment 16, connecting members 18,connecting members 20 (preferably having diameter greater than that ofconnecting members 18), lock pins 22, wheels 24, strap attachment hoops50, and tow rings 40. In this embodiment, the wheels are attached 54directly to tabs 56. The dolly is moved to lifted configuration byattaching chains 58 (or other like connectors) between opposing tabs 52.

Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate methods of safelymoving a two-wheeled vehicle. In one embodiment the method comprisesassembling a frame of a dolly around a wheel of the vehicle in a loweredconfiguration, securing the wheel to the frame of the dolly, andswitching the dolly to a lifted configuration. In a preferredembodiment, either the front or the back of the dolly is lifted first.Alternatively, both ends are lifted simultaneously. Note that while theinvention is particularly useful for two-wheeled motorcycles, it canadditionally be useful for three-wheeled vehicles, such as athree-wheeled motorcycle, a two-wheeled motorcycle with a sidecar, etc.

Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately”means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particularreference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achievethe same results. Variations and modifications of the present inventionwill be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. Theentire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, andpublications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stabilizing dolly system for a two-wheeledvehicle comprising: a front segment and a rear segment; said frontsegment and said rear segment each comprising a right side and a leftside; said right sides and left sides of said front segment and saidrear segment each comprising a rotating wheel hub, and at least onewheel attached to each of said wheel hubs; a front axle and a rear axleconnecting said front wheel hubs and said rear wheel hubs respectively,such that said front wheel hubs and said rear wheel hubs rotatesimultaneously; wherein said front and rear rotating wheel hubs canswitch said system between front segment and rear segment lowered andlifted settings by simultaneously rotating on a horizontal axis inrelation to a ground level; at least two connecting members between saidfront segment and said rear segment; and said connecting membersforming, when said front segment and said rear segment are assembledtogether, a holding frame for receiving one wheel of said two-wheeledvehicle, for fastening said two-wheeled vehicle and lifting said onewheel of said two-wheeled vehicle off the ground.
 2. The stabilizingdolly system of claim 1 further comprising at least one towing ring onsaid front segment.
 3. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 1 whereinat least two of said connecting members are foldable for a compactedconfiguration.
 4. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 1 wherein saidconnecting members are at least two front connecting members and tworear connecting members, and said connecting members connect with theirrespective counterparts by one having a greater diameter than the otherand fitting over it.
 5. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 4 furthercomprising locking pins for locking said at least two front connectingmembers and two rear connecting members in place after fitting one overthe other.
 6. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 1 wherein at leastone of said wheel hubs of said front segment, and at least one of saidwheel hubs of said rear segment further comprises a socket forconnecting a leverage tool.
 7. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 1further comprising axle bearings.
 8. The stabilizing dolly system ofclaim 7 further comprising locking pins for locking said wheel hubs ontosaid axle bearings.
 9. The stabilizing dolly system of claim 7 whereinsaid axle bearings further comprise rings for fastening said two-wheeledvehicle.